Mother’s Day rail

Tuesday

Apr 29, 2008 at 12:01 AMApr 29, 2008 at 1:23 AM

Facts, craft ideas, TV moms, a special recipe and more.

Mother’s Day History, Part I

During the 1600s, Christians in England celebrated a day to honor Mary, the mother of Jesus. By a religious order, the holiday was later expanded in its scope to include all mothers and was named Mothering Sunday, which is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent -- exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday. (http://theholidayspot.com)

Mother’s Day History, Part II

Mother's Day (celebrated on the second Sunday in May) was loosely inspired by Mothering Sunday and was imported by social activist Julia Ward Howe after the Civil War. However, it was intended as a call to unite women against war. Howe’s idea was influenced by Ann Jarvis, who, starting in 1858, had attempted to improve sanitation through what she called Mothers' Work Days. When Jarvis died in 1907, her daughter Anna Jarvis started the crusade to found a memorial day for women. The first such Mother's Day was celebrated in Grafton, W. Va., on May 10, 1908, in the church where Ann Jarvis had taught Sunday school. From there, the custom caught on, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother's Day – although it was intended as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war. (Wikipedia.org)

Make the Day Special, Kids

Some ideas about how you can make Mom feel appreciated this Mother’s Day:

- Make her breakfast in bed (or talk Dad into taking Mom and the rest of the family out to brunch or dinner)
- Make her a special handmade card; include drawings or pictures of things Mom likes, and perhaps add a personalized poem or a quote about moms
- Make a cookie and jellybean bouquet
- Make a scrapbook for her
- Personalize a picture frame (and don’t forget to include your photo!)
- Personalize a flower vase
- Decorate a flowerpot

For more craft ideas, check out these Web sites: http://holidays.kaboose.com/mothers-day/index.html; http://amazingmoms.com/htm/holiday_mothersday.htm

Quotes of Note

"The noblest calling in the world is that of mother. True motherhood is the most beautiful of all arts, the greatest of all professions.” -- David O. McKay

“Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs – since the payment is pure love.” -- Mildred B. Vermont

“A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest.” -- Irish proverb

“God could not be everywhere, therefore he made mothers.” -- Jewish proverb

"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother." -- Lin Yutang

Who’s Your Favorite?

Over the years, there have been TV moms to suit just about every taste. Below is a listing of many of our favorite TV moms. Who are your favorites? Are there any moms you would add to this list? Let us know!

1. Remove teddy bear from oven and preheat oven to 375.
2. Melt 1 cup margarine in saucepan.
3. Remove teddy bear from oven again and tell Junior, "No."
4. Add margarine to 2 cups sugar.
5. Take shortening can away from Junior and clean cupboards.
6. Measure 1/3 cup cocoa.
7. Take shortening can away from Billy again and bathe cat.
8. Apply antiseptic and bandages to scratches suffered while removing shortening from cat's tail.
9. Assemble 4 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla and 1½ cups sifted flour.
10. Take smoldering teddy bear from oven and open all doors and windows for ventilation.
11. Take telephone away from Junior and assure party on the line the call was a mistake. Call operator and attempt to have direct dialed call removed from bill.
12. Measure 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup nuts and beat all ingredients well.
13. Let cat out of refrigerator.
14. Pour mixture into well-greased 9x13 inch pan. Bake 25 minutes.
15. Rescue cat and take razor away from Billy.
16. Explain to kids that you have no idea if shaved cats will sunburn.
17. Throw cat outside while there's still time and he's still able to run away.
18. Frosting: Mix the following in saucepan: 1 cup sugar, 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, 1/4 cup margarine.
19. Take the %$$&% teddy bear out of the @#$% broiler and throw it away -- far away.
20. Answer the door and meekly explain to nice policeman that you didn't know Junior had slipped out of the house and was heading for the street.
21. Put Junior in playpen.
22. Add 1/3 cup milk, dash of salt, and boil, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
23. Answer door and apologize to neighbor for Billy having stuck a garden hose in man's front door mail slot. Promise to pay for ruined carpet.
24. Tie Billy to clothesline.
25. Remove burned brownies from oven. (www.basicjokes.com)